CorruptioninourHomelandASymptomofAbsent

(Filipino)NationalismREVISED5/26/2015
"Corruptionisworsethanprostitution.Thelattermightendangerthemoralsofanindividualtheformer
invariablyendangersthemoralsoftheentirecountry."KarlKraus,18741936.

....corruptionisthenecessaryconsequenceofasystemwherecolonialand
not
nationalisticvalues
prevail.IndalecioP.Soliongco(Editor,ManilaChronicle,19471971)

"ManyFilipinosarewhatIcallSundayreligious,thatistheygotochurcheverySunday,takein
confessionandcommunion,buttherestoftheweektheybribeanddocorruptdeeds..."

Dr.PuraSantillanCastrence(19052007)

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Addendum:formonthsnow,thecorruptioninvestigationsagainstVPJejomarBinay
occupythenewsheadlinesinourhomeland.Throwinsocailmediatoo.Givenourhistory
of
continuingpoliticalpast
,weordinarycitizensinthestreetareleftoutonlytofume,to
ventout,touselesslyspeculateandbegivenanotherridebyhighlyandpossiblyof
"thievesaccusingfellowthieves"
inourhallsofCongress,adnauseam.Wenative
citizensespeciallyussocallededucatedonesdeservesuchashowandnational
predicamentbecausewedonotknowourownselvesandworse,probablydonoteven
appreciatetheneedtoknowandunderstand.Sowegoourusualmerryways.

HiAll,


[NOTE:Iamnotaddressingherethoughbadandirritatingthepettygraftandcorruptionwe
experiencedailyorprivate/nongovernmentalcorruption.Myattentionisplacedonthemore
humongouscrimesofpublicgraftandcorruptionthathave
longterm,i.e.generational,and
broadlydisastrouseffectsonourhomelandandourfellownativemajorityasthese
crimesarefundamentallyactsoftreason
,unforgivableandunforgettable,deservinglife
imprisonmentandpreferablyfortheconvictedtobeputtothewallandshot.]

Inrecentweeks,wehavebeenwitnessingalotofemotionalreleasefromanger/disgustshown
byfellownativeFilipinosaboutthe
porkbarrel,euphemisticallyrenamedPDAF,scams
andmore
recentlyintheweekpast,theallegedbriberyforhelpingimpeach
SupremeCourtJustice
Corona
via
PresidentNoynoyAquinos

DisbursementAccelerationProgram(DAP)
.Letus
hopeandworkformoreconsistentandpersistentpressurebyanarousedFilipinocitizenryto
ensuresomethingtrulyeffective,intheshortandlongterms,andencompassingactionsto
happen.

Thatis,
forusnativeFilipinosnottolettheseprotestsinthestreets,insocialmedia,etc.
devolveintoanotherofourtypicallyrepeated
"ningaskugon"

reaction.
Aswehave
allowedthiskindofpopularoutragetofizzleoutlikeanyfadsooftenthroughoutthepasttwo
generations.

Our
"ningaskugon"
mentalitypersistentlyoccursmainlybecause
there'snodeep,systemic
understandingoftherootsofourproblems,inthisinstancethekindsofgraftand
corruption,mostespeciallyin
highplaces.

Throughoutourpoliticalhistory,fromthesmalltowntoprovincialfromprovincialtoregionalto
nationalpolitics,thecorresponding

governingelite/politicians
identifiedusuallywiththe
corresponding
s ocioeconomicelites
covertlyandovertlyemployillegalandsociallyimmoral
preandpostelectoralpracticesforsystematicallymaintainingandreinforcingtheirwealth,
politicalpowerandinfluence.

Examplesoflargescalepublicgraftandcorruptioninclude:

theelectiontime
3Gsgoons,gunsandgold
withbodyguards/goons,politicalkillings
andvotebuying,

allowing
juetengand/orsmuggling
toflourishinexchangeforelectoralfinancing
supportbyitsoperators,

the
spoilssystem,
wheregovernmentjobsareawrdedtosupporters,inlieuofthemerit
systemwhichnegatesthecompetitiveCivilServiceSystemandconsequentlyresultsin
governmentalmassiveincompetenceandinefficiency,

"porkbarrel"system
Filipinolegislatorsareallocatedlargesumsofthe
annual
budget
(200millionpesosforeachsenatorand70millionforeachrepresentative).Porkbarrelis
noweuphemisticallyrenamedasaprogramcalledthe

PriorityDevelopment
AssistanceFund(PDAF)
.
T hat'swhycandidatesseetheseporkiesintheir
electoralexpendituresasworthwhileinvestmentsandrationaleforusingthe
3Gs.

theallegedPhp50million(ormore)briberytoeachof20Senatorswhovotedtoimpeach
SupremeCourtJusticeCoronaviaPresidentNoynoyAquinos

Disbursement
AccelerationProgram(DAP)
.RememberJusticeCoronarulingforthetillers
againsttheAquinoCojuangcoclansHaciendaLuisitaandthusearnedtheireof
thelatterbloc.

theawardsto

rentseekingpoliticalsupporters
,moneyedconnectionswhoeitherare
orwanttobeinbusinessandobtainunfairadvantagesagainstanycompetition,as
describedinsocalled
BootyCapitalismorCronyCapitalism,
etc.

AllorsomeofthesepracticesarenotparticulartousnativeFilipinos,astheyoccurthroughout
theworld.
However,theyareuniquelydominantthroughoutourlocalandnational
politicallivesandtheoverallconsequencesofwhichmakeourcountrytobedescribed
asa

"softstate"
or
"weakandfailedstate."
thatis,thecommon/publicgoodbeingignored
andneglected.

The
"old"
premartiallawoligarchsmostlyfeudal/landedaristocrats,theMarcoscreated
oligarchs,andothermorerecentoneswhobenefitedfromthesubsequentpresidenciesof
CorazonAquino,FidelRamos,JosephEstrada,GloriaArroyoandnowNoynoyAquino
would
continuetothrive,remainandgrowstronger(includingthesepresidentsthemselves,theirkins,
croniesandpoliticizedmilitarysupporters).

Thereasonbeingthattheexistingoldoligarchsacceptthesenewones,regardlessofthelatter's
publiclyknownthieveryfromthegovernmentcoffers,thusprovidingsocalledlegitimacytothese
publiccriminals.
Forhowcantheseoligarchscondemnpeoplewhoemulate,behavelike
them,wouldliketojoinandbeamongthem,
byhookorbycrook?

Thosewhofollowpoliticaldevelopmentsinourhomelandareawareofgrossgraftandcorruption
inpastandpresentadministrations:

1. HernandoJ.Abaya
wrotethefirstbook
"BetrayalinthePhilippines"(1946)
on
postWW2
presidentialgraft/corruptionanddeceit
(includingthewartime
collaborationwiththeJapanese)committedby

M anuelA.Roxas
.

2. Therespectable,former
SenatorJovitoSalonga
haswrittenbookson
presidential
plunders
by
FerdinandMarcos
and

JosephEstrada
.Ihavenotfoundyet/wonderif
therewereotherbooksonpresidentialplundersinourhomeland.
Duetotheunquestioningacceptancebytheold,andnewgoverningandnongoverningelites
andbyoursocallededucatedmiddleclasswhoareusuallyemployedbytheelitesandthe
inutileignoranceofthemasses(sincetheyarebusilystrugglingfordailysurvival)
wenative
Filipinoshaveextremelyshortmemoriesandwittinglyorunwittinglyassurethatsuch
historywillrepeatitself...endlessly
.

BTW,letusnotforgetthe
Chinesetaipansandotherforeignbusinessmen
whoresideinthe
homeland,alsoheavilyprofitfromthismessystateofaffairs,whichinadvertentlyorincahoots
withthosenativesinpower,
quietlylaughtheirwaytotheirbankswhilewenativesprotest
inthestreets.
ThesetaipanscontrolandownseveralofthelargestPhilippinebanksand
practicallyournationaleconomyandhaveeventakenoveranumberofourschools,
colleges/universitiesgivingthemgreatercapabilitytopontificate,influenceandfurtherweaken
theFilipinomindtotheiradvantagewhilesimultaneouslyrunningthemascorporateprofit
centers.

TheissueforallofusconcernednativeFilipinosisnotwhois/aretheworstpublicthieves.
The
issueiswhywethesocallededucatednativeFilipinosallowthesecrimestohappen.

ItseemswenativeFilipinoshavegivenupanyrealstruggleforfundamentalchangesandsocial
justice.Itseems
wenativeFilipinosaretheonlypeopleonearthwhoallow
known,elected
officialsandtheirminionstostealourpubliccoffers,tocommitcrimewithimpunity,tonotonly
letthemremainfreebutalsotocontinueand/orreturntoruleus.

Andtherefore,knowingthesefacts
wenativesdeservetobedoomedthroughoutour
remainingyearsandunwittinglywedoomourfuturegenerations
unlesswewakeupand
actnotonlyforeconomicandpoliticalchangesbutalsoforthefundamentallynecessary,
radical,socialtransformation.


Inbelowarticleoncorruption,thelate
I.P.Soliongco
againprovidesuswithhiseasily
understandableandcriticallyanalyzedobservationsofPhilippinesocietyofhistimeallofwhich
stillresonatewithmuchrelevancemorethantwogenerationstodayallofwhich
indicatethatnothinghasfundamentallychanged
forthebettermentofournativemajority.

Soliongcocorrectlyalludesto
theabsenceofasenseofcommunity/nationhood,inother
wordsthelackof

Filipinonationalism

thuslackofloyaltytosocietyamongallofus:the
Filipinoelite,oursocallededucatedandmostofusnativeFilipinos
asamajorfactor
contributingtothemassivegraftandcorruption.
Wecanaddothersignificant,ifnotequally
major,factorsemanatingfromourcultureandinstitutions,suchasoursocalled

splitlevel
Christianity

"familycentered"

values,attitudesandbehaviorsinstitutionalizedcorruptible
systemmassiveignorance/illiteracy
"weakstate"
etc.)

Totheforeignerandthenotcriticallythinking,orlazynativeFilipino,whoseeandconcludethat
corruptionisinourblood,apartofourFilipinoculture,i.e.oursocalled
cultureof
corruption.

Istronglydisagree.

IagreewithSoliongcowhosawcorruptioninourhomeland,inallitsmanifestations,asa
symptomandnotarootcauseofourperpetualpoverty,
despiteourmanyhighlyeducated
nativesandrich,thoughdiminished,naturalresources.

Essentially,wenativeFilipinosneedtoidentifyandcriticallyexaminetheseinternal/cultural
obstaclestoprogressivechangesinadditiontothehistoricalandcurrentexternal/foreign
influencesandpressurescovertlyandovertlyimposedonus.Ibelievemanysocallededucated
amongusknowsuchneedbutbecausetheyprofitfromthestatusquo,donothaveempathy
andidentificationwiththenativemajority(anotherindicationofoursociety'seliteclassmentality),
theydonotworkforthecommongood.

ForthosenativeFilipinoswhodo,Iinviteyoutoread,toknowandtohaveadeeperappreciation
ofgraftandcorruptioninourhomeland.
Asalways,thepasthelpsustounderstandthe
presenttoplanandtoact.

Bert

InthelongruneveryGovernmentistheexactsymbolofitsPeople,withtheirWISDOMandUNWISDOM
wehavetosay,Lik ePeoplelik eGovernment.ThomasCarlyle,17951881,ScottishPhilosopher,Author

P.S.RegardingMilitaryCorruptioninourHomeland,pleasevisit(pointandclick below):

1. CorruptionintheAFP/Military,SuicideofGeneralAngeloReyesandNeedforMilitary
Reform
2. SinsoftheCavaliersPMACorruptionandGARCITapes

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CORRUPTION
WrittenbyIndalecioP.Soliongco,EditorialWriter/columnist,ManilaChronicle

Afriendofoursforwhoseviewswehavethehighestrespecthastakenexceptiontothe
observationwemadeinthisplacetheotherdaythatthelongexperienceoftheFilipinosunder
colonialruleisanexplanationbutnotanexcusefortherampantcorruptioninFilipinosociety.
Suchanexperience,ourfriendarguedwithsingularpassion,hasnothingtodowiththepresent
behavioroftheFilipinos,andhowtheyactasamanifestationofanaberrationincharacterand
nottheproductofhistoricalforces.

Howeverallthismaybe,
thefactstandsoutthatthesocalledaberrationintheFilipino
charactercannotbecongenital,forifitis
,thentheFilipinoarecursedindeedanddonot
deservetosurvive,muchlesstoprevail.Theyrefatedtoscroungetobeabletolive,tohave
mastersandtobeburdenedwithwhatNietzscheoncecalledthe
"moralityoftheserf."

Butweprefertothinkthatnopeople,noteventheFilipinos,wereevercreatedwithsofatalan
affliction.And
whilethefaultofwhattheyareliespartlyinthemselves,thetruththatmust
beadmittedinfairnessisthatpartofthatfaultliesintheirpast
.Thatpastconditionstheir
presentandexplainsthecuriousambivalenceoftheircharacter.

OneofthemostcommonaccusationshurledattheFilipinosbyforeignerswhoknownobetteris
thattheirobsessionisfinancialsecuritytothesatisfactionofwhichtheyhavesosacrificedtheir
senseofrightandwrongthattothemthemostimmoraltransactionshavebecomepardonable.


Inasense,thisistrue.ThemoralsensibilitiesoftheaverageFilipinohavebeenanesthetized:

firstbyhisdesiretofreehimselffromeconomicinsecurity,and
secondbythefinancialandsocialsuccessofthosewhohavenoconceptofhonor
andhonesty.

Theuglyresultofthisprocessisthatunlikethemembersofthemoresecuresocieties,
societiesinwhichrespectforlawandconventionistheconditionprecedenttosurvivaland
success,
themassofFilipinoshavelittle,ifany,capacityformoralindignation.
Theyare
notcapableof,say,thesamepassionandhatredwhichanimatedtheFrenchin1934when
Francewaswrackedbythe

StavinskyScandal.

ButthissingulartolerantattitudeoftheFilipinostowardmatterswhichinotherplaceswould
goadofficialstosuicideandcausegovernmentstofallstemsfromthecavaliermannerinwhich
theyregardthelaw.
Andthiscavaliermannerinturnistheconsequenceofthe
experienceoftheraceunderanodiouscolonialsystem
(ofSpainandpartlyoftheU.S.A.)
inwhichlawswereproclaimedandtraditionsdevelopedfortheprotectionandexclusivebenefit
oftherulers.

ColonialRoots

Inthiscircumstance,theFilipinoswereforcedtolookuponlawasanimpedimenttotheir
survivaland,asacorollary,tolookupontheviolationoflawasanecessaryvirtue.(Their
behaviorduringtheJapaneseoccupationistoorecenttoneedelaboration.)Finally,inasituation
whichsubsistedformorethanfourcenturiesandinwhichtheywereatthepoorreceivingendof
alopsidedcolonialeconomicarrangement,
theFilipinoscouldnothelpbeingobsessedwith
thelogicaldesireofcapturinginthebestwayopentothemwhattheyconsideredtheir
rightfulshareoftheproceeds.

Itcanbeargued,ofcourse,thattheseconditionswehavedescribedhavebeencancelledbythe
factthatthecountryisnowsovereignuntoitself.Onthetheoreticalplane,thiscannotbedenied.
Butonthepracticallevel,thetruthislessrosy.Forthetruthisfor16yearsafterindependence,
theFilipinosarestilltheeconomicallyweakmajorityintheirownland.Thus,
unlessthey
wrenchthemselvesforciblyfromtheeconomicchainandemergeastheeconomically

dominantmajority,
theyhavelittlechoicebuttoholduntothosevaluesandstandardswhich
hadenabledtheirforebearstosurvivecolonialrule.

Theprocessofgrowthanddevelopmentisalongandarduousone.Twentiethcenturyman,
despitehismillionofyearsofdistancefromhisbrutishancestors,hasnotlostthecapabilityfor
atavism.ThesamemustholdtruewiththeFilipinos.
T heyhavebeenfreeduringthelast16
years,yes,butsetagainsttheiralmostinterminablecolonialbackground,sixteenyears
istooshortatimewithinwhichtodiscardtheoldvalues,abandonthemoralityofthe
serfandadoptthemoralityofthemaster
.(8101962)

Noissueintheelectoralcampaignhasarousedmoreconfusionandgivenwaytofutilepassions
thantheissueofgraftandcorruption.Itisforthisreasonthatwehaveplaceditasthelast
discussioninaserieswhichbeganwithnationalismandcontinuedontothe

FilipinoFirstPolicy
andthequestionofcivilliberties.
(NotebyProf.Constantino:Thiscolumnwaswrittenduringthe
presidentialcampaignof1961.MacapagalsmainissuewasthecorruptionoftheGarcia
administration.SoliongcosupportedGarciabecauseofthenationalisticplatformofthe
incumbent.)

TheLiberalcandidates,from
VicePresidentMacapagal
and
formerSenatorPelaez
tothe
congressionalaspirant,havebasedtheircampaignongraftandcorruption,almosttothe
exclusionofotherandmorebasicissues.Theyhavedoneso,forgraftandcorruptionasa
politicalissuehasapowerimparttothosewhouseitasasenseofselfrighteousness.More,it
hasawayofinflamingthemultitudeandrobbingitofwhateveranalyticalcapacityitmighthave.

Now,graftandcorruptionareanevil,andasanevilithasnoplaceinawellorderedsociety.
It
shouldarouseourmoralindignationbutnottothepointwherewearerenderedblindto
itssocialandhistoricalcontext.

InitsPhilippinesetting,theissueofgraftandcorruptionisnotthepoliceproblemthatthe
Liberalshavetriedtopaintit.ItssolutioncannotbefoundinthecustomaryMacapagal
exhortationaboutputtingtheerringCabinetSecretaryorthemerestcrookedclerkbehindbars.
ThesolutionthattheVicePresidentsuggestsmaybeeffectivefordramatizinghis
claims.Butwearecertainthatitwillnotsolvetheproblem.

CorruptionandNationalism

Attheriskofincurringthedispleasureofthosewhocontendthatnationalismandcorruptionare
twodistinctandseparateissuesandthatthefirsthasbeenrenderedmeaninglessbythe
second,wewouldliketoadvancetheminorityviewthatinacountrylikethePhilippines,a
countrywhichhasbeenacolonyformorethanfourcenturiesandwhichgaineditsfreedomina
somewhatimperfectfashiononlytheotherday,thetwonationalismandcorruptionare
inextricablyboundtogether.Toputitmoreaccurately,
corruptionisthenecessary
consequenceofasystemwherecolonialandnotnationalisticvaluesprevail.

OurexperienceduringtheJapaneseoccupationshouldshedlightontheintimatelinkbetweena
colonialorderandcorruption.Duringthattime,theFilipinosconsidereditavirtuetoroband
cheattheJapanesenotonlyonthegroundthattheJapaneseweretheenemybutonthemore
cogentgroundthatthefruitsoftheirfarmsandoftheirlaborwereappropriatedbytheinvaders.

OurexperiencewiththeJapaneseisthetelescopedofourcenturiesofexperiencewithour
formerrulers.
T hevalues,therefore,whichwehaddevelopedduringthosecenturiesare
aresultofthatexperienceandhavebecomeingrainedinus.
W esuggestthatitisnotlikely
thatwecandoawaywiththematthesnapofVPMacapagalsfinger.Butthemoreimportant
reasonisthat
theconditionswhichonceformedthebackgroundfor,andthejustification
of,thosevaluesarestillpartlyinexistencetoday.

TothecreditoftheNacionalistas,theyhavenotallowedthemselvestobecarriedawaybythe
popularclamor
Offwiththeirheads!
Theyhaveconductedapunitivedriveagainstthegrafters
andthievesinthegovernment,butatthesametimetheyhaveendeavoredtoremovethe
causesofthieveryandgraftby
thehardbutnecessaryexpedientofimplementinga
nationalisticeconomicprogram.

TheapproachoftheNacionalistas,wesubmit,islongandhard.Butwecannotconceiveofany
other.
ForwhatisofgreaturgencyisthattheFilipinosmustbeshownevidencethatthey
arethebeneficiariesoftheirlaborandofthewealthoftheirland.
Afterthisisdone,itwill
beeasyforthemtoadoptthemoresofthemasterandabandonthemoresoftheserf.
(11131961)

CorruptionandImperialism


Wecannothelpbutbeconfusedthesedays.Wedonothavethecertaintythatmostofour
friendshaveandsowearelesscapablethantheyareofformingreadyconclusions.

Ourfriendshaveallcomeoutthumpingtheirchests,inamannerofspeaking,andcondemning,
withallthefuryoftheOldTestament,thosewhoarenowaccusedofgraftandcorruption.
Perhaps,weareassureastheyarethatthesegovernmentofficialsareasguiltyasanything,
butthen,
wearestruckbytheratherconsistentinternationalpatternofthisdecadence.

WeseemtorememberthatgraftandcorruptionhavealsopervadedtheofficialdomofChinaand
intherepublicsofSouthandcentralAmerica.Weneednotevenmentionherethesame
corruptioninEuropeandelsewhereeveninJapanunderthestrong,puritanicalarmofGeneral
DouglasMacArthurandGeneralCourtneyWhitney.

Wehaveobservedthatthisepidemicofscandalshasstruckwithmoreorlessthesame
virulencethoseregionswhereimperialismisintheprocessofstrengtheningitshold.Wehave
studiedthematteralittlemorethoroughlythanisourwontandweseemtoseealogicalpattern
runningthroughthewholething.

Weseemtoseealso,that
graftfollowsrathercloselythegraphoftheriseandfallofthe
imperialistadvance.

AndthenwerecallthecorruptionoftheKuomintang,ofthearmyandbusinesscliquesinSouth
America,ofthetremendouspowertheywieldandtheinfluentialpositionstheyhold.These
groups,wefind,are
notthegroupsidentifiedwiththerealnationalistmovements
intheir
respectivecountries.Rather,theyareidentifiedtoocloselywiththosewhoarereadytodispense
patronageandprotectiontoforeigninterests.

InthePhilippines,thosewhoprofitedfromcorruption,thosewhoreceivedbribesintheformof
concessionsfromtheFLCandtheUSCC,andlater,fromtheSurplusCommission,are
those
whoworkedfaithfullyforthepassageofParityandtheapprovalofthe

BellTrade
RelationsAct.

Today,whentheyhavebecomesocorrupt,theyhaveceasedtobeofanyusetoimperialism.
Theyhavebecome,instead,adefiniteliability.Andtheymustbestopped.Tooustthemfrom

power,anothergroupmustbesupportedandencouraged.
T heprocesswillgoonandyou
maybesurethatimperialismisalwayspreparedtoresolvethedilemmaofcorruption
.It
knowsfromexperiencethatcorruptionisdynamic,thatitprogresseslikecanceruntilitsvictim
becomesuselessevenforthepurposeofpuppetry.Thesolutionistotransferallegiancetoan
incorruptiblegroup,relativelyspeaking.

Thestoryofthebananarepublics,oftheChiangKaiShekregimeandoftheTsaldaris
administrationofgreeceshouldbeveryrevealing.Weimaginetheyareworthstudyingifonlyto
understandthatthecurrentwaveofgraftisnotonlyamatterofmoralsbutalsoofpowerpolitics.
(02261949)

DiagnosisandCure

Itisnodoubtan
intellectuallyexhilaratingexercisetotracecorruption
inadeveloping
countrylikethePhilippines
toitssociologicalandeconomicroots.
Thiswasdonetheother
daybyfourlecturerswhoareinManilatoacquaintbusinesswriterswiththenuancesoftheir
chosenfield.

Likemedicaldoctorsinconsultationovertheailmentofafastdeterioratingpatient,thefourone
aCeylonese,oneanIndian,oneanEnglishman,andthelastaFilipinodiscussedatlengthand
indetailthecausesandthenatureofgraftandcorruptioninPhilippinesociety.

Each,asonlytobeexpected,hashisowndiagnosisandcure,butallareagreedontheseldom
acceptedpropositionthat
corruptioninthePhilippines,whetherprivateorofficial,isdue
tothestateofscarcitywhichbedevils,theFilipinointhemass.
Thismeansthatbecause
ofthemarginalexistenceofthevastmassesofFilipinostheexistenceofwhichisbasedon
twomealsadayandonaforlornhopeforabrightfuturecorruptionhasbecomeawayoflife.

Butthesignificantdistinctionwhichthelecturersmadesignificantinthesensethatitisjustified
bytheactualityinthePhilippinesisthat
mostofthecorruptionheremaybefound
,notin
thebarriosorintheisolatedclustersofhamletsintheremoteareas,but
inthesuperblypaved
andairconditionedghettosofpoliticiansandtycoons.
Bythese,Iimagine,thelecturers
meantthe
membersoftheelite,
thedecisionmakerswho,indevelopingregionsoftheearth,
usuallycomposeamonolithclassanditsancillarygroups.


Thenthelecturerspointedtoanotherlevelofcorruption,thecorruptionwhichinvolvesthe
transferofpurchasingpowercashforshortfromonehandtoanotherinthebureaucracyand
inthelowerechelonsofthebusinessandpoliticalworld.

Noremedywassuggestedtocuretheevilwhichhasmadetheelitethatmuchmore
reprehensible,buttoerasethecorruptiontowhichthebureaucracyisaddicted,thesuggestion
wasmadethateconomicdevelopmentshouldbetheimmediategoalinordertodoawaywith
thestateofscarcity.

Inotherwords,industriesshouldbedeveloped,thevastnaturalresourcesofthecountry
exploited,andtheagriculturallandsrenderedmoreproductiveifmembersofthebureaucracy
andthepeoplewhocomposethelowermiddleclassaretohavetheirjustshareofthenational
wealthandinquantitiesthatwillmakethemantagonistictoanyformofcorruption.

Asanordinarylaymanwhoisinterestedintheemergenceofasafeandeconomicallysecure
society,
Icannotpossiblyhaveanyquarrelwiththesolutionssuggestedbythefour
lecturers
.Forsurely,theacquisitionofprofessionalprideonthepartofthemembersofthe
bureaucracyandtheabolitionoftheeconomyofscarcitywillbringusnearertothepreconceived
sunlituplands.

Butbeforethesunlituplandsarereachedbefore,toexpressitinotherwords,theeconomyof
scarcityisabolished
itisnecessarytoremovetheimpediments.
Unfortunately,thebiggest
impedimentstotheattainmentofasecuresocietyarepreciselytheformsofcorruptionwhich
prevailinthePhilippinestoday.Whatthismeansisthat
theformsofcorruptionplacedunder
scrutinybribery,nepotism,extortion,etc.aretheinsuperableobstacles
to
industrialization,professionalism,asoundcivilservicesystem,andgeneralcompetence.

ItisforthisreasonthatIinclinemoretothenotionthat
themostdrasticchangesshouldbe
institutedinthatechelonwherethosewhowieldrealandeffectivepowerarewell
entrenched.
Thisdone,itwouldbeeasytoeffectreformsinthebureaucracy,inthelower
middleclassandcertainlyinthatgroupofthedebasedproletariat.

Whatthismayentailisthat
radical,possiblyundemocraticmeasures,willhavetobe
appliediftheleadershipthatIhaveinmindistobemadecapable
ofshowingthe

membersofthelowerorders,bypreceptandexample,thewaytothedesiredUtopia.
(8301968)

NoSimpleTask

Removingcorruptioningovernmentisnotassimpleasraisingahowlaboutitorraidingitsden.
Norcanitberemovedbychangingonesetofofficialswithanothersetbutwithoutalteringthe
internalandexternalpoliciesofgovernment.

Forinstance,itisdifficulttoconceivethatourpresentcropofrulersderivetheirpowersand
supportfromthepeople.Whileitistruethatthesemenowetheirelectiontoanominalmajority
ofvotes,itcannotbedeniedthattheirentrancetoofficewasmadeunderacloud.Evenifitis
admittedthattherewasarealmajoritywhichwonthemtheiroffice,yetnoonecandenythat
theircorruptionfromthedateoftheirelectiontothepresenthasbeenprogressive.

Thereasonisthattheirservicestotheeconomicallypowerfulcanonlybepurchasedattheprice
allowingthemtohelpthemselvestothepublictill.Sincetheycannotpossiblygotothepeoplefor
support,
theyrelyontheeconomicintereststheyserveformaintainingtheminpower
.
Andsince,further,theyknowthattheirtenureisnecessarilylimited,
thelogicofthesituation
compelsthemtobemorecorrupt,
ifonlytomakethemostoftheiropportunities.

Buttheseobservationswouldbemoreclearifwecitedtheexamplesofthecorruptregimesin
thebananarepublics,inChina,andinthosecountrieswhereasmallrulinggroupfindits
greateststrengthnotinpopularsupportbutinthepropsofferedbyforeigninterests.Among
thesepropsare:

surplusgoods,
semigovernmentandgovernmentcontracts,
specialimportandexportlicenses,
bankloans,
exclusivetradingrights,and
alotofotherprofitablesidelineswhichforeigninterestscanaffordtodispense.

Totheextentthattheseofficialsarenotcorruptedtothepointofuselessnessinsofaras
protectingtheinterestofeconomicsisconcerned,theyaresupported.If,however,their

corruptionissoextensiveastodiscreditthemcompletely,therewouldbenohesitationin
sacrificingthem.Afreshsetischosenandtheprocessisrepeatedadinfinitum,
unlessthe
peopledecidetocomeinandintervene
.(5211949)

EvenTeachersCheat

Whoeveristhemastermindbehindtheracketeeringonjuniorandseniorteacherscivilservice
examinationquestionsdeservescommendationforhisorherkeenbusinessacumen.Wewould
advisetheauthoritiestogoeasyonhimorherandtoconsiderthecircumstancessurrounding
thecommissionoftheallegedcrime.

Onethingshouldbeobvioustotheauthorities:nopersonwithanybusinesssensewillindulgein
aracketwhichdoesnothavearichmarket.Wecontendthatwhoeverisresponsibleforthe
leakageofthetestquestionstooktheriskofviolatingthelawbecausehesawhoweagerthe
candidatesweretopayforthequestionsinordertopasstheexaminations.

Inotherwords,
theteachers,theverypeople,bytheway,whoareentrustedwiththe
trainingandeducationofthenationschildren,providedtheencouragementforthe
racket
.Itisreportedthatanumberofthemhavealreadypartedwiththeirsavingsjusttogethold
ofasetofthetestquestions.Thisishoweagertheyaretoqualifyasjuniororseniorteachers.

Thisisaverynaturaldesire,ofcourse.
Butwhatisinfuriatingisthattheseteachers,whoin
theclassroompreachhonestyandcatchwitheagereyespupils,whocheat,are
themselvesguilty
oftheverycrimestheytrytoabolish.wewonderwhatachildwouldthinkif
heweretoknowthathisteacherpassedagovernmentexaminationbecausehehadsecured
thequestionsinadvance.Andwewonderwhatateacherofthistypewouldtellastudentcaught
cheatingatexaminations.

Wehaveseenthetypeofquestionsusuallyaskedincivilservicetests.Theothernightwesaw
asamplesetforseniorteachers.Itisdoubtfulifevenahandfulofteacherscangivethecorrect
answers.Andweshallneverknowwheretheexaminergotthequestions.

So,rememberingourchristianupbringing,wedonotexactlyblametheteachers.Wenowknow
thatitrequiresaspecialkindofidiocytopassthecivilserviceexaminations.(6161951)

OurMoralRegeneration

Amongthemanycatchwordsinventedbythepresentdispensation
todistinguishitin
qualityandpurposefromitspredecessor,themostwidelyused,theonethatisintendedto
clinchanyargumentoversuperiority,
ismoralregeneration
.Inthesehecticdaysofpolitical
campaign,
itisoftenonthelipsofcandidatesandtheirleaders,asiftheactofutteringit
wassufficienttoestablishthemoralascendancy
ofeventhereprobate.

Butmoralregenerationisasumptuousphraseofvastandintricateconnotation.Itisaphrase
whichcannoteasilycometothelipsofthegreatmajorityofourpoliticians,
forinitsreal
sense,moralregenerationcannotbeconfinedtothemereabolitionof,say,thatpetty
thievery
thatusedtobeamajorfeatureinthedailylivesofgovernmentemployeesandofficials.
Itcannotmerelyrefertotheabandonmentofthehabitoffilingspurioustaxdeclarationsorofthe
practiceofavoidingthepaymentofcustomsdutiesontaxablegoods.

Allthis,wesuppose,isdesirable,forattheveryleasttheresourcesofthegovernmentwouldnot
beimpairedifthieverieswerestoppedandtaxespaid.Andinsohardupagovernmentasours,
theconservationoffinancialresourcesisalmostanaccomplishmentinitself.

Butameticulousobservanceofthepettymoralityofthesmallmanandofthevillagepreacher
andthissimplymeanstheelevationofthehonestyoftheclerktothecategoryofan
allencompassingvirtueislikelytodetracttheattentionofthepeoplefromtheotherand
perhaps
morevalidandmoreenduringaspectsofmoralregeneration.

Theseaspectsareconcernedwiththetimelessdecencieslike:

mentalhonesty,
loveofjusticeforitsownsakeandnotforthesakeofselfadvertisement,
capacitytoownmistakesandwillingnesstorectifythemevenattheriskofhurtingone
ownpride,
apassionatereluctancetolieandapassionatededicationtotellthetruth,
andmanyotherpracticeandhabitofthemindandspiritknowntoallcivilizedmen.

Ourhumblesuggestionisthatunlessthesedecenciesaremadeapartofthenodoubtgreat
objectivesofthemoralregenerationcampaign,thesocietythatwouldemergefromtheeffortsof
thepracticingmoralistswouldbecomposedofpettyofficialsandpettycitizensfreefromthe
taintofthe
NewEras
versionoftheoriginalsinbutdevoidofthatgraceandgoodwillwhichare
ultimatelythefirstprinciplesofacivilizedcommunity.
(NotebyProf.Constantino:TheNewEra
wasthenameadoptedbytheMacapagalAdministrationwithMoralRegenerationasthe
accompanyingslogan.)

Inaword,
whatwewouldhaveisaCalvinisticsociety
wheretheconversionofthievingclerks
intolittlehonestangelswasanendinitselfand
whichcouldbeusedtohidethemore
pervasiveimmoralityofdestroyingthegraceofjusticeandfairness.

Weshouldallrejoice,ofcourse,thataccordingtoofficialreports,therearelessthievesin
governmentthanusedtobe.Byallmeansletuscelebratethenewlyacquiredsenseofpetty
honestyofthesmallmen.

Butweshouldnotbesatisfiedwiththis.
Weshoulddemandthatthebiggermengivethe
fullestobservancetothebroaderandmoresophisticatedstricturesthatareimpliedin
thephrasemoralregeneration
.Andthissimplymeansthatthebiggermenshouldnotactlike
BigBrothers,andthattheyshouldnotsayonethinganddotheopposite.Shouldtheybecapable
ofthis,moralregenerationwouldceasetobeasemantictrapandbecomeameanstoliberation.
(9011963)

Source:SOLIONGCOTODAY,EditedbyProf.RenatoConstantino(1981)
FoundationforNationalistStudies,QuezonCity

NOTE:
Asalludedtointhe
Preface
ofthesourcebook:Mr.Indalecio(Yeyeng)P.Soliongco
waseditorialwriter/columnistoftheManilaChroniclefromthelate1940sto1971.Hewroteover
8000columnsinhis
"SeriouslySpeaking"
c olumn.Hediscussedvarioussubjectsbut
concentratingondaytodaysociopoliticaldevelopmentsexposingthehypocrisy,lackof
intellectualandmoralintegrityofmanypublicfigures.

Thefirstpriorityforanyunderdevelopedcountry,beforeitcanbegintheeconomicandsocialdevelopment
mostappropriatetotheneedsofitspeople,istheseizureofpowerbythemassesandthetotaldestruction
ofthecontrolandinfluenceoftheforeignpowerandlocalexploitingelite.Withoutthis,nothingispossible.
FelixGreen,BritishAuthor,1970

(torequestAbayabookfreecopyviamyemail:bmdrona@gmail.com)

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